----- Original Message ----- From: Joseph E. Lake To: VAFAQUI-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2004 1:59 PM Subject: Signing & Witnessing Land Leases in Colonial Virginia To the Fauquier List .... Does anyone have factual or informed knowledge about the following. I have just finished several days with some Fauquier Deed Books, and I'm curious as to whether or not it makes sense to assume patterns of blood relationship, friendship, or whatever from noting the names of people executing leases (as the grantee) and the names of the individuals witnessing the signing of the lease. There are some obvious situations where the surnames are the same, but how about the less obvious ones (but where you see approx the same combinaions on several different leases). Where several individuals (but with different surnames) sign leases on the same day, for adjoining tracts, etc. In view of travel distances and time required to travel, & the relatively low frequency of leasing activity, it seems more than coincidence (to me) when several individuals sign on the same day and for the same area. Of course, too, it could be totally random ... "You're here so how about witnessing this lease (since we have no others available to be witnesses)". Further, there was a the matter of "proving" the signatures before the County Court at the time the recording of the deed was accomplished. I'm uncertain of the exact procedure for this, but it seems to have required an appearance at the site where the court was sitting and a swearing before the court, which would have required a lot more time than just "witnessing" a signing. Well, perhaps I've made my question(s) clear. What are the logical assumptions/conclusions which can be "assumed" ..... or does one just try to check out all possibilities.